The Evil Djinn

10 June, 2008

The economy is taking a dive and mainstream media is finally acknowledging it to be farther flung than just a housing and credit crunch. Yesterday, while watching CNN on television, I noticed the talking heads actually had the guts to come out and call what is happening with credit, housing, jobs, food and oil prices what it is--a crisis. I was told what to think about this "revelation" of theirs and what to do about it. To make a long story short, their solution was basically to suffer. All I have to do is change my "lifestyle" and do without. One wizened female economist sternly warned all of us 401K holders to NOT PANIC and leave that money right where it is. If it hadn't been Friday I'd have started taking steps to withdraw mine right then, as it is, I'll have to wait until Monday to begin the process. Whatever these people tell me to do, I have a tendency to make sure I do just the opposite.

When they talk about doing without, they are not merely talking about material goods, they mean doing without physical contact with friends and family if it involves flying or driving any distance to visit them or vice versa. The issue of travel is not merely logistical, it is psychological as well. How so you might be asking? When the price of travel becomes untenable for the average person, we are effectively being cut off from our loved ones who live far away. How much longer are people going to be able to afford to drive or fly across country to spend time with friends and relatives on major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas? For that matter, how many are going to be able to afford to fly or drive across country in the event of a death in the family? The destruction of these types of activities through inability to travel amounts to destruction of some of our most basic cultural habits.

The Communists have long ago laid plans to break down family ties and make us a Godless society. In their utopian dream of all humans being equals, they take away any personal motivation to exercise the mind or to excel in any way. There is no need for creativity or excellence because there is no reward for such endeavors, whether artistic in nature or scientific. My vision of this type of society brings to mind the color grey.

On the other hand, the Fascists use nationalism and religion in order to further their cause of imperialism and implementation of the police state. They are much more stylish and colorful than the Communists.

For a long while, I thought the U.S. was headed toward Fascism, at other times I saw Communism seeping through the laws our government enacted and enforced. I've come to the conclusion that what I have been witnessing is neither pure Fascism nor pure Communism. It is the worst of both of these isms melded together to create a monstrous bastardization of the two. For someone who believes they are free with a Constitution and a Bill of Rights to protect them against government, this creates quite a mental conundrum when trying to figure out exactly where this government is taking us.

After all is said and done, what is the difference between Fascism and Communism? Both entail concentration camps for those who don't agree with government, both equal poverty and loss of freedom for the people. Both entail torture and separation of family members who don't go along. Regardless of what you call it, there are always those on top who call themselves "leaders" who do not change their lifestyle or do without until their regime is overthrown. History proves they always are overthrown. That is the good news. The bad news is that there are years of suffering meted out to the people before this ever happens and history also proves it is easy to install even worse despots and dictators than those who were just deposed.

Today as I drove to the grocery store, I saw no less than nine garage and yard sale signs in a two mile stretch. I stopped counting after that. One sign in particular caught my eye, it said: Final Soon To Be Homeless Sale. So, this is what people in this once rich, bountiful nation are coming to accept as their fate. Yes, it is true, people foolishly used their homes as bottomless ATMs and they spent the money on junk. They didn't save for a rainy day and many are now on the streets. Being forced to move in with relatives or living in a homeless shelter (if there is room) will be a difficult transition.

Who will be next, me, you? It could happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. There is no way to guarantee your job is stable if you have one. The recent unemployment statistics proved that yesterday. Three hundred and twenty-four thousand more people have lost their jobs and I am sure very few of them saw that coming. CNN acknowledged this in the program I watched yesterday and their solution? Grovel at the feet of your employer and hope for the best. Suck up as much as you can because that may mean you are the last one to get your pink slip. In other words, you don't need your dignity, you need a paycheck.

Speaking of dignity, one very important aspect ignored throughout the housing and credit crisis by media (no surprise there!) is the fact that fewer and fewer people equate bad credit ratings with being a bad or irresponsible person. Is this one small beacon of hope for us through all this darkness? There was a time when the word bankruptcy was on a par with four letter words and if you did have to file, it was kept as quiet as possible. Much to the chagrin of those who have spent millions dispensing the propaganda touting high credit scores, this stigma is gone. Armed with this knowlege, people are beginning to taking back control over their own thought processes rather than allowing a high or a low credit rating define their self-worth. We are not our credit scores, we are much more than that.

When possessions become burdensome, it's time to get rid of them. Just as selling off clutter in a home can be a liberating experience, unloading a house (in any way possible) that has gone from being your dream to a nightmare, is even more liberating. People can always acquire more material goods, but they can never recoup the time spent enduring relentless stress and worry over something for which they can no longer pay.

Since it is so difficult to officially declare bankruptcy these days, thanks to the collusion of government and big business, there is something which neither of them wish to hear us speak. I call it undeclared bankruptcy. This is when you hand over the house key to the bank and walk away from debt. It takes years to overcome this type of unofficial bankruptcy as do the official types of declared bankruptcy. And you can bet collection agencies will be hounding you for years if you choose this route, but more and more people are managing their lives in this fashion, especially if they are turned away at bankruptcy court.

Where I live there is in effect what is called Proposition 13. This law keeps runaway taxation of real estate at bay and under control. It is truly a law that is beneficial to the property owners of California. There are moves underway to change Proposition 13, the claim is that the homeowner will still be protected, but businesses are to be the target of more taxation, as if that is going to be good for the economy.

Why does the government not recognize that shelter is a basic necessity of human beings? Everywhere you look, government is making people homeless and poorer by using the taxpayer's real estate as their own personal piggy banks. What kind of government selectively taxes their citizens? If you don't own a home you pay no property taxes, if you do and you want to keep it, then you pay what I consider a specialized tax where only property owners are their targets. This is not fair and should be abolished. Of course, it never will be unless there is a general uprising against this practice, this revenue source is too dear and important to those who waste our money year in and year out. If you don't want to pay gas tax, you don't have to drive or you can at least cut down or use public transportation, if you don't want to pay tax on booze or cigarettes, then you can choose not to smoke or drink alcohol. But taxation on real estate is much more insidious and there is a lot more to lose if you choose not to participate in being taxed on real estate. The tax hikes on property are more often than not formidable ones and for someone on a fixed income this can and often does mean the difference in keeping or losing the property. There are cases all over the country of people who have lived in homes all their lives or own land that has been in their family for generations watching their property auctioned off because of these tax hikes.

Even if you have cash you are not immune to the problems facing us now. One thing you can take to the bank is the New World Government never runs out of ideas for making us poorer. There is no protection against inflation if you are holding dollars. Many tout gold as a great way to hedge against a dropping dollar, but that is a gamble, too. Don't forget that this government confiscated gold from its citizens at one point and I doubt there is little that would stand in their way of doing it again.

This government also herded U.S. citizens into concentration camps during World War II.

This government has spied and continues to spy on its own citizens illegally.

This government has conducted medical, chemical and biological experiments on its unsuspecting public.

This government has conspired to terrorize its citizens in order to cause them to get behind their wars.

This goverment allows and directs rogue factions such as the CIA to overthrow democratically elected leaders of other countries in order to install despots and dictators who will acquiesce to their desires.

When I look at the history of what the U.S. Government has done to its own people, I have to ask this question--exactly when was it that we were "free?"

Perhaps the settlers in the wild west were the last ones who were far enough removed from the long arm of a centralized government to taste true freedom.

I've said this before and I'll say it to you again--stock up on food and other essential items as much as possible, prices are only going to go higher. Grow as much food as you possibly can, even if you have only a patio or a small space to grow a few tomatoes. Don't only think of your own gullet when stocking up, make sure you have tradeable items that other people will want. If you're in a good financial position, drill a well on your property and get off the grid with solar or wind power for your heating, airconditioning and other energy needs. Learn how to survive on your own. Don't depend on the government to help you when times are hard. If you accept help from them, there is a price to be paid in giving them all your personal and financial information.

Today, I don't see much hope for a quick fix for our problems. The only good I see coming from all this bad is that through their suffering, perhaps more people will understand what is happening and will stand up for what is right. My fear is that they will run screaming to the government demanding they solve their problems for them and that is exactly what the government wants us to do.

The New World Government is like the evil Djin who grants three wishes. There is always a catch and the hapless wisher never sees it coming.